Local chef shines at statewide Buy Local event

A Silver Spring chef's recipe for root beer float bars was featured at the kickoff of the statewide Buy Local Challenge Week, which began Saturday and runs through Sunday.

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) played host to the cookout on Thursday.

Recipes were submitted by chef/producer teams and selected for their creativity, availability of ingredients, geographic representation and maximum use of local ingredients.

Chef Susan Callahan, who teaches hotel restaurant management for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore at The Universities at Shady Grove (USG) in Rockville, teamed up with local producers to submit the recipe for the event, which challenges Marylanders to eat at least one locally grown, made or harvested product each day during the week.

The producers included dairy farm South Mountain Creamery in Frederick County, Evensong Farm in Washington County and Washington Flour in Howard County.

Over 60 recipes were submitted in the categories of appetizers, side dishes or salads, main dishes, desserts, beverages and table decorations (centerpieces). All submissions, along with a few O'Malley family favorites, have been published online. The Maryland Wineries Association recommended wine pairings for each recipe.

For information about the Buy Local Challenge Week and to find local products, visit

www.marylandsbest.net.

Democratic club

to hold summer party

The Greater Silver Spring Democratic Club will hold its annual Summer Fest from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at 305 Hamilton Ave. in Silver Spring.

Hot dogs, hamburgers and soft drinks will be served at the event, which is free, but the club will accept donations.

For more information, call Mark Woodard at 301-592-1811, Donna Graham at 301-585-4759 or Paul Mitchell at 301-588-7126.

The How-To Cowboy'

rides into town

If you've ever wanted to learn how to whistle through an acorn, talk like Donald Duck or another fun trick, then mosey on down to Fair Day's Play at 7050 Carroll Ave. in Takoma Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday to learn from the master, the "How-To Cowboy."

Children's book author and entertainer Edward Allan Faine will perform both days at the store, teaching youngsters everything from how to tell jokes to the secrets of learning to whistle through your tongue.

For more information, call Fair Day's Play at 301-270-4999.

Free outdoor movies

at Pyramid Atlantic

Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center and the Silver Spring Regional Center are joining forces this summer to present "Screen on the Lot," a free outdoor movie series presented on a large screen in the Pyramid Atlantic parking lot at 8230 Georgia Ave.

The public is invited to bring a blanket, lawn chairs and a picnic to enjoy the cinematic experience.

"Transformers" will be screened at 9 p.m. today. "Iron Man" will be screened at 9 p.m. Aug. 5. The films are rated PG-13.

The event will feature choreography emphasizing artistic dance expression in closed spaces, with dancers being confined to an area about the size of a walk-in closet.

Two local bands, the Able Birds and Scott and Friends, will also perform at the event.

Tickets cost $10 at the door. For more information, visit the group's Web site at www.hldance.org.

County students advance through scholarship program

Twenty-four county students, including several from Montgomery Blair, Paint Branch and Springbrook high schools, have been named in the second round of college-sponsored National Merit Scholarships and are among 51 winners statewide of scholarships sponsored by colleges and universities throughout the nation.

Each college selected winners from finalists in the 2009 National Merit Scholarship Program who plan to attend their institution.

The new list of students brings the total of Merit Scholarship winners in Montgomery County Public Schools for the 2008–2009 school year to 71 students.

Among the winners are Montgomery Blair High School students Eric S. Kuang, sponsored by University of Maryland; Andrew J. Villadsen, sponsored by University of Chicago; Matthew F. Xu, sponsored by University of Maryland; Henry T. Zhang, sponsored by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and Ya Zhou, sponsored by University of Maryland.

Paint Branch High School student Adam C. Sonty, sponsored by the University of Miami, and Springbrook High School student Michelle Chen, sponsored by the University of Maryland, were also among the winners.

Silver Spring learning center looking for high school tutors

The Gapbuster Learning Center in Silver Spring is looking for high school and adult volunteer mentors to tutor young students.

Volunteers are needed from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. during the summer and 3 to 6 p.m. during the school year.

High school students should be in grades 10 to 12.

The Gapbuster Learning Center is a community-based program dedicated to closing the academic performance gap of students in Montgomery County. For information on how to volunteer, contact Alejandro Roberts at 301-588-5501 or alejandro_roberts@yahoo.com. For more information on Gapbuster Learning Center, visit www.gapbuster.org.

Ongoing photo-portrait

exhibit in Takoma Park

An exhibit by local artist John Borstel will be on display through Aug. 29 in the Atrium of the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave.

The exhibit, "Closet Opera," opened Sunday and features 40 self-portrait photographs that reflect the nature of private obsession and identity. The display was supported by the Takoma Park Arts and Humanities Commission.

In addition, a special closing reception will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 21 in the Atrium. For more information, call the commission at 301-891-7224.

Send Silver Spring news to Staff Writer Jason Tomassini and Takoma Park news to Staff Writer Jeremy Arias at The Gazette, 13501 Virginia Manor Road, Laurel, MD 20707. The fax line is 240-473-7501. Tomassini can be reached at 240-473-7559 or jtomassini@gazette.net; Arias can be reached at 240-473-7564 or jarias@gazette.net.